Some school policies could put kids at risk for skin cancer

Sunblock considered over-the-counter meds by some schools

There's nothing like a long, cold winter to make you crave the sun, but without the proper protection, those rays can be deadly.

Parents routinely put sunscreen on their children, but many local schools have policies that make it harder for kids to put on lotion during recess or after-school sports, when experts say they may be most at risk.

WLWT's Jackie Congedo took a special interest in skin cancer prevention after doctors found a cancerous mole on her back in November. Her investigation found that many Tri-state public schools have policies that consider sunscreen an over-the-counter medication, which requires a doctor's note.

Shannon Lake and Julie Barczak are two Tri-state women who had everything going for them. Lake is a former Ben-Gal and businesswoman, and Barczak is a mother of two who married her high school sweetheart.

Both had storybook lives until that dermatologist's visit and then that phone call.

"Never at age 35 would I think that I have melanoma or (would) have to deal with this," Lake agreed.

It's a diagnosis their doctor, Brett Coldiron, gives frequently. As the president-elect of the American Academy of Dermatology, he has a clear picture of what he calls a national epidemic.

"The national rate of increase in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer is varying between 2 percent and 5 percent per year. That means it's going to double every 15 to 20 years. I think that's an epidemic," Coldiron said.

"My time working with athletes has really discovered that athletes, frankly, don't use sunscreen," said Dr. Brian Adams, who heads the University of Cincinnati's Department of Dermatology and runs a sports dermatology clinic.

"I would say, in high school, I don't really remember having it available," Williams said.

Local school nursing authorities said each public school district creates their own policy about sunscreen.

While administrators may choose to turn a blind eye, in most cases, sunscreen is considered an over-the-counter topical medication, which is prohibited without a doctor's note. In general, public schools don't encourage kids to bring sunscreen to school, and they don't provide it.

"I think it's something the schools will catch up with. It's just like wearing any other sort of protective equipment. You let them out to play, they should have some sort of sunscreen on and I think that's kind of a no-brainer," Coldiron said.

It's a no-brainer that Barczak and Lake are making sure they pass on to their families.

Both women wish they could change the past, but vow to make no mistakes about protection in the future.

"Just like any helmet in football, it's a shield, and it should be a shield provided for every child. I do believe that," Barczak said.

School nursing authorities said they do encourage sun safety education in schools. In fact, there's a curriculum available through the Environmental Protection Agency called "SunWise" that is often provided for teachers to use in May, which is Sun Awareness Month.

However, critics say it's not enough to teach kids about sunscreen. They argue it should be provided by and its application practiced at school.

There are several groups that have, in recent years, taken up the cause of trying to change school policy one district at a time, in an effort to ensure that sunscreen is not only allowed, but also encouraged.

The California non-profit, Sun Safety For Kids, has information on their website about how you can get involved in changing sunscreen policy at your child's school.

Copyright 2013 byWLWT.comAll rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.